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The Minister of Interior and Administrative Reform Cristian DAVID is meeting the recently appointed Home Minister of Italy Roberto MARONI, on May the 15th 2008, in Rome

The discussions to take place between the two officials will focus on issues related to the setting of new measures within the framework of the bi-lateral Romanian-Italian cooperation meant to counter the crimes committed by Romanians. The topics will be approached in the wider context provided by the safety package which the Italian Government is going to discuss in the Council of Ministers’ session.

This visit of Minister Cristian David in Rome is one of the measures decided by the Romanian Prime Minister in the context of the operational work meeting held at the Government headquarters, on the 12th May 2008.

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Approximately 200 persons will be accommodated in the only centre in Europe destined to the persons in need of urgent international protection

Upon the proposal of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees and after the verifications made by the MIAR units, a maximum number of 200 persons whose fundamental rights are not respected in their own countries and who are in urgent need of international support will be accommodated in the Emergency Transit Centre, the first of the kind in Europe.

The persons can be accommodated in this centre for a maximum 6-month period of time, being possible to extend it with another 6 months, only with the approval of the minister of interior and for special situations.

The Emergency Transit Centre for the persons in urgent need of international protection will be functional in Timisoara, and it will most likely be operational at the end of this year, when all the legal procedures have been accomplished. 

BACKGROUND INFORMATION :
On the 8th of May 2008, the Minister of Interior and Administrative Reform Cristian DAVID signed in Bucharest, together with the representatives of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees and of the International Organization for Migration, the Agreement between the Government of Romania and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the International Organization for Migration Regarding Temporary Evacuation to Romania of Persons in Urgent Need of International Protection and their onward resettlement.

This event was also attended by nine ambassadors in Romania of the following countries: Great Britain, the USA, France, Canada, Kingdom of the Netherlands, Kingdom of Denmark, Slovenia and Korea.

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On the 8th of May 2008, the Minister of Interior and Administrative Reform Cristian DAVID signed in Bucharest, together with the representatives of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees and of the International Organization for Migration, the Agreement between the Government of Romania and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the International Organization for Migration Regarding Temporary Evacuation to Romania of Persons in Urgent Need of International Protection and their onward resettlement.

Based on this Agreement, an Emergency Transit Centre for the Persons in Urgent Need of International Protection will be set up in Romania. This will temporarily ensure a secure environment for the persons in risk situations, as this Centre is the first of the kind in Europe. Thus, the persons and groups in need to be urgently evacuated so as to be protected against an imminent danger will be able to receive immediate protection in Timisoara until they are resettled to third countries.

By signing this Agreement, Romania decided to enlarge its participation in the international communities’ humanitarian actions, the solution reached by the Romanian authorities referring to the involvement in some operations regarding the resettlement of the third-country citizens being in urgent need of international protection, by giving them the right to temporarily stay within the territory of Romania.

The previous efforts made by Romania in this context materialized in the receiving, in March 1999, of 4000 refugees from Bosnia Herzegovina and Croatia, who were subsequently resettled in the USA. At the same time, in July 2005, the Government of Romania accepted within its territory, again temporarily, 439 Uzbekistani citizens who were resettled to third countries.

The setting up of this Emergency Transit Centre in Romania, the first of the kind in Europe, represents an important step taken in view of reaching the strategic objectives of the United Nations Organization provided by the UN Millennium Declaration, and will contribute to the significant enhancement of our country’s prestige within the framework of the General Assembly of UNO, as well as of its visibility at international level.

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At the end of the bi-lateral meeting with Michele Alliot-Marie, his counterpart official, the Minister of Interior and Administrative Reform Cristian David signed, on behalf of the Romanian Government, the Agreement between the Governments of Romania and of the French Republic on the civil security and protection regarding the assistance and cooperation in risk situations.

Minister Cristian David appreciated that the signing of this document represents the deepening of the cooperation between the two states in the area of prevention and cooperation in risk situations.

For the enforcement of this agreement, a Mixed Romanian-French Commission in the field of civil security and protection was created.
This Commission plans and coordinates the common activities, and decides on the modalities of the technical and specialised information exchange. 

Each party of this agreement can require from the other one assistance in risk situations.
The assistance can refer to equipment designed to eliminate or to reduce the effects of catastrophes, searching-rescuing equipment or first aid materials. 

Based on this legal instrument, the two parties will develop a technical, scientific and operational cooperation at more levels, such as: planning/ organising/ enhancing activities of preventing and fighting against fires or against the consequences of the accidents and catastrophes of any kind; emergency and risk medical assistance; the identifying/ studying and tackling risk situations, as well as conducting intervention operations.

BACKGOUND INFORMATION:
One of the top-priorities of the Ministry of Interior and Administrative Reform in 2008 is the improving of the intervention/ response capacity in civil emergency situations.   

To this end, there was drawn up a Multiannual Development Program providing the acquisition of 1,120 intervention vehicles and devices for breathing protection that are going to add to the existing equipment of the General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations. This program implies a total sum of money estimated to 240 million Euros, and it is designed for 6 years.

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Today, April 22, 2008, Minister Cristian David had a bi-lateral meeting with Ms. Michele Alliot-Marie, Minister of Interior, Overseas Territories and Territorial Collectivities of the Republic of France.

In the context of this meeting, the setting up of three mixed working groups was agreed in the following areas: the decentralization and the accessing of the structural funds, the police co-operation and the fight against corruption.
As for the administrative decentralization, the working group will cooperate especially in the field of the accession of the structural funds, area in which the French experts will share their experience gained in conducting projects that could help Romanian authorities and communities to benefit from these funds.

Regarding the police cooperation, the working group will monitor and investigate the cases of human trafficking, with a special focus on those referring to sexual exploitation and money laundering.
The third working group will aim to emphasise the Romania’s progresses achieved in the fight against corruption by exactly informing of the progresses made.

At the end of their meeting, the two officials signed the Agreement between the Governments of Romania and of the French Republic on the civil security and protection regarding the assistance and cooperation in risk situations and the Cooperation Protocol in the area of public administration between the Romanian and French Governments.

Regarding these documents, Minister Michele Alliot-Marie underlined that they are a proof of the common efforts made for cooperating in the field of administrative decentralization, civil protection and internal security. 

At the same time, Minister Cristian David appreciated that the two new legal instruments would add to the existing bi-lateral cooperation legal framework, and that the progresses in the area of administrative decentralization were partly achieved as a result of the excellent collaboration with the French authorities.

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Today Minister of Interior and Administrative Reform Cristian DAVID starts an official visit in Paris

On April 22, 208, Minister Cristian David is having a bi-lateral meeting with his French counterpart Ms. Michele Alliot-Marie, in the context of which they will approach a series of issues of interest on the Romanian-French collaboration in the area of internal affairs and administrative reform, Romania’s preparations for joining the Schengen territory and the Prüm Treaty, Romania’s gaining the statute of member state in the European Gendarmerie Force, as well as on a series of initiatives which the future French EU Council Presidency – in the 2nd semester of 2008 has in view to promote, especially the European Pact regarding Migration and Asylum, the foundation of the Union for the Mediterranean and the police cooperation. 

On the same date, within the framework of a ceremony, there will be signed the Agreement between the Governments of Romania and of the French Republic on the civil security and protection regarding the assistance and cooperation in risk situations and the Cooperation Protocol in the area of public administration between the Romanian and French Governments. On behalf of the Romanian Government the documents will be signed by Minister of Interior and Administrative Reform Cristian David. 

The two new legal instruments will add to the bi-lateral legal framework in operation, the fields taken in view being extremely important, the more so as they are top priorities on the European agenda as well.

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Bi-lateral meetings in the context of the JHA Council

In the context of the “Justice and Home Affairs” Council, held on 18 April 2008, in Luxembourg, the Head of the Schengen Department, Secretary of State Vasile-Gabriel NITA had a series of bi-lateral meetings with EU counterparts and European officials.

EUXINE Mission will take place on 15 September
The first of the meetings was that with the Director of Frontex, Mr. Ilkka Laitinen.

On this occasion, the two officials agreed to prepare the first Romanian-Bulgarian common patrol action at the Black Sea (EUXINE) for preventing and countering illegal migration starting September 15, 2008.
They also agreed that mixed teams of Romanian, Bulgarian and Frontex experts should meet as soon as possible to identify the conditions and regulations for the exercise, for the participation of the other Member States in this activity, for properly preparing it.

On the same occasion, the Secretary of State met with Ms. Michele Alliot-Marie, the French Minister of Interior, Overseas Territories and Territorial Collectivities.
The two parties reiterated their commitment to enhance and extend the bi-lateral co-operation in the area of internal affairs considering the future EU French Presidency.

The common Schengen Evaluation Calendar – completed
In view of the future common Schengen Evaluations of Romania and Bulgaria, the Head of the Schengen Department Mr. Vasile Gabriel Niţă had also a meeting with Mr. Goran Yonov, the Bulgarian Deputy Minister of Interior.
The two officials agreed on the final form of the Schengen Evaluation Calendar transmitted to Romania and Bulgarian by the Secretariat General of the Council. They underlined the good co-operation between the two states in the area of police co-operation and in their preparation for the two countries’ common accession to the Schengen territory in March 2011.

The Dutch Minister of Justice and Police – invited in Romania
In the same context, Secretary of State Vasile Gabriel Niţă met Minister of Justice and Police of the Netherlands Hirsch Ballin, occasion on which they discussed their common wish to enhance the existing cooperation between the two states in the area of home affairs.

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During the yesterday MIRA College Session, there has been approved the rendering operational of a mobile squad able to take action in the European states.

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Even since the beginning of this year, over his meetings with some high EU officials, Minister Cristian David underlined the fact that it is necessary to render such a unit functional, which is regarded as a necessary measure, required by the increased number of Romanian citizens who have travelled abroad since 1 January 2007. It was also underlined the need to enhance the existing police cooperation developed via the internal affairs attachés or via the International Police Cooperation Centre.

The Service of countering the crimes committed by Romanians abroad within the General Inspectorate of Romanian Police will be reorganized, its attributions will be reformulated and approximately 30 posts of specialist officers will be created so that this mobile squad could be made functional.

The main advantage of creating such a unit is represented by the fact that the Romanian officers will be able to go in operational missions in the EU whenever necessary, in view of participating in the investigations of the crimes committed by Romanians, together with the national authorities.

Having attributions regarding both the EU and non-EU member states, the personnel of this unit will carry out operational activities of solving the international police and judiciary assistance applications, of coordinating the specific activities regarding the minors in difficult situations present within the territory of other states, of monitoring/ supporting/ coordinating the territorial units, inter-institutional collaboration etc.

The officers specially prepared for this mobile squad will also be available for the rest of the counties, at the level of those countries recognized as “sources”, following the analysis on the crimes committed by the Romanians abroad, that is Bacău, Bihor, Călăraşi, Constanţa, Dolj, Galaţi, Iaşi, Maramureş, Mehedinţi, Neamţ, Satu-Mare, Suceava, Timiş, Teleorman, Ialomiţa, Arad, Braşov, Caraş-Severin, Prahova, Sibiu, Hunedoara and Bucharest.

After the yesterday decision regarding the rendering this unit operational, the General Inspectorate of Romanian Police will take all the necessary actions so as to select and employ the needed personnel.

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Over the first two months of 2008, 453 police assistance applications have been submitted at the level of the Service for countering the crimes committed by Romanians abroad – a 57 percent more as compared with the same period of 2007.

The main types of crimes committed by Romanians abroad are theft, prostitution, beggary, forgery, treachery and robbery.

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JHA Council Reunion in Luxembourg

On 17 and 18 April 2008, the Reunion of the “Justice and Home Affairs” Council is taking place in Luxembourg, in which - on behalf of the Ministry of Interior and Administrative Reform - principal quaestor Vasile-Gabriel NITA, Secretary of State, the Head of the Schengen Department, and principal quaestor Corneliu ALEXANDRU, the Head of the General Directorate for European Affairs and International Relations, are participating besides specialists of the European Commission Representation in Bucharest and of the other EU Member States.

On this occasion, various issues regarding the present stage of the implementation of the Schengen Information System II (SIS II) will be approached, and also the Report of the working group involved in this project will be presented.

At the same time, the participants will discuss on the draft Directive of the European Parliament and Council on the common standards regarding the procedure of the Member States on the return of the third country nationals identified as residing illegally.

Its main goal is setting some particular and transparent rules on the return of the third country nationals who do not anymore meet the requirements of the legal stay within the territory of the EU Member States, and using restrictive measures in this regard, in full compliance with the fundamental human rights and liberties.

Also, during the Reunion, the participants will discuss the European Union Plan for Enhancing the Explosives Security, as well as the opening of the negotiations in view of concluding an agreement between the European Community and the United States of America regarding the conditions of accessing into the U.S. – VISA WAIVER Program.

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The Romanians in Spain – a Matter in the Romanian Home Minister’s Attention

This morning, Minister of Interior and Administrative Reform Cristian DAVID had a work meeting with the General Director of the General Police Directorate and Guardia Civil of the Spanish Home Ministry Joan MESQUIDA FERRANDO, who is currently paying a visit to Romania, on the occasion of the Romanian Police Day.

The two officials highly appreciated the bilateral cooperation developed at the level of the two competent ministries and the two national police forces, as well as the need to initiate new projects which could provide a proper response in preventing and countering criminality generated by the Romanians in Spain.

The representative of the Spanish police stated that in Spain there is an important Romanian community, estimated at approximately 600,000 Romanian citizens and that the great majority of them work legally and do not represent a concern to the Spanish authorities.

The Romanian ministry of interior presented the way in which the new unit to be rendered functional at the level of the Romanian Police will work; this unit will also be able to participate in particular actions beside the law enforcement agencies from the European states whenever the situation created by Romanians requires it.  

Minister Cristian David had the initiative of a meeting at the level of experts in order to analyze the various aspects regarding the prevention and countering of criminality.

The two officials scheduled in June a work meeting at the level of experts, on different issues referring to countering crimes, the more so as on holidays Spain represents a tourist zone preferred by the Romanians, and aspects of petty crimes, such as beggary, prostitution and sexual procurement, can also raise.

The meeting also approached other aspects on cooperation in view of outer border securing, as both Romania and Spain have to tackle the management of the EU external borders.

Minister Cristian David launched the invitation for the representatives of the Spanish authorities to participate in the Romanian-Bulgarian common action called EUXIN, which is going to be held at the Black Sea, in cooperation with FRONTEX.

The today meeting emphasizes the determination of the Romanian and Spanish competent authorities to keep on the efforts made so far, as well as to strengthen cooperation not only for countering the criminal activities of the groups including Romanian citizens within the Spanish territory, but also for increasing effectiveness of the fight against trans-border crimes in general.

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Today, 14 March 2008, in Olso, Minister of Interior and Administrative Reform Cristian David and Minister of Justice and Police of the Norwegian Kingdom Knut STORBERGET have signed the Agreement between the Romanian Government and the Government of the Norwegian Kingdom on police co-operation.

Minister Cristian David underlined that the enhancement of the police co-operation will lead to a better activity in other fields of collaboration between the two countries as well. 

The main objective of this legal instrument is increasing the Romanian-Norwegian cooperation in view of effectively preventing and countering crimes, the threats to home security, as well as for preventing and identifying various crimes.

The crimes which this protocol refers to, for the countering of which measures will be taken jointly by the Romanian and Norwegian parties, include illegal trafficking in drugs and persons, illegal migration of labor force, weapon smuggling, coin forgery, as well as cyber crimes, crimes against property, environment and others.

Minister of Justice and Police of the Norwegian Kingdom expresses his confidence that the signing of the agreement will lead to a more effective and appreciated cooperation.

Based on this agreement and in accordance with each specific situation, the Romanian and Norwegian policemen will cooperate by exchanging information and expertise, by forming and training personnel, or by exchanging specialists.

Minister of interior and administrative reform presented the Norwegian official the initiative regarding the setting up, at the level of the Romanian Police, of a specialized unit for taking action and supporting the counterpart authorities of the EU member-states; he also stated that a group will be prepared for acting in the Northern zone, including policemen familiarized with the specific legislation and problems regarding criminality in the area.

Minister Cristian David also had meetings with the representatives of the National Police Directorate and the Norwegian Police College, within the framework of which issues specific to the international police cooperation activity were addressed.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Minister of interior and administrative reform Cristian David is in Oslo, upon the invitation of the Norwegian governmental authorities, where he is having a series of meetings with high-ranking decision-makers in the field of justice, internal affairs and administrative reform.

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Minister of Interior and Administrative Reform Cristian David is meeting the Bulgarian Home Minister Rumen Petkov at the end of this week.

At the end of this week, Minister Cristian David will meet his Bulgarian counterpart Rumen Petkov in Constanta, in order to discuss on border security and cooperation in countering trans-border criminality.

During their meeting, the two officials will also approach various issues of common interest such as cooperation at the Black Sea between the border authorities of Romania and Bulgaria, as well as aspects regarding the accession to the Schengen territory.

The agenda of this meeting includes a visit at Constanta harbor, at the headquarters of the Border Police Directorate Constanta, as well as a presentation of the SCOMAR system.

The minister of interior and administrative reform does not have attributions in setting the program of meetings for the NATO Summit, and up to present there is no information coming from the relevant authorities of the official activities which could take place in Constanta.

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Between 13 and 15 March 2008, upon the invitation of the Norwegian governmental authorities, Minister of Interior and Administrative Reform Mr. Cristian David is paying an official visit to Oslo, during which there he will have a series of meetings with high decision-makers in the field of justice, internal affairs and administrative reform.

Over the Romanian dignitary’s meeting with Mr. Knut STORBERGET, Minister of Justice and Police of the Norwegian Kingdom, scheduled on 14 March 2008, the Agreement between the Romanian Government and the Government of the Norwegian Kingdom on police co-operation will be signed. This document will significantly contribute to the enhancing of the Romanian-Norwegian co-operation in view of effectively preventing and countering criminality, threats to home security, as well as for preventing and identifying various crimes.

At the same time, the agenda of this visit will include a meeting with Mr. Wenche Lyngholm, secretary of state within the Ministry of Administrative Reform of the Norwegian Kingdom, as well as visits at the level of the National Police Directorate and the Norwegian Police College, within the framework of which there will be approached issues specific to the international police cooperation activity.